THE RESULT:  It took a near three-hour rain delay to get this one started.  And once it was, both teams sloshed around an outfield that was not fit for Major League play.

But the Nats are happy they waited and got this one in.

Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a "home run hitter's" blast off the facing of the upper deck in left center field, and Adam Dunn hit his second home run in three games, as the Washington Nationals turned a close game into a laugher, beating the Florida Marlins 9-3 before just a few dozen left of the announced crowd of 18,326 at Miami's Sun Life Stadium.

The weather turned the crown into a "freinds and family" atmosphere, with just a couple hundred sticking around for the final.

The win is the Nats fourth in five games and raises their record to 57-75.

Dunn, who appears to have emerged from his month-long slump, went 2-for-4 with a double, homer (33) and four RBIs.  In fact, the 3-4-5-6 hitters in the Nats' lineup all had two hits apiece.

Jason Marquis was not particularly sharp, allowing seven hits and three walks in his 5 2/3 innings pitched, but was the beneficiary of two double plays to end rallies and stuck around long enough for the win, his first of the season, to better his record to 1-7.

Joel Peralta, Tyler Clippard and Craig Stammen were all lights out, as each struck out the side in an inning of work.

Zimmerman's home run (25), a three run shot off Florida starter Alex Sanabia (L, 3-2), was a towering blast that slammed off an electronic sign on the facing of the upper deck, estimated at over 450 feet.  The ball crashed into the sign and broke the panel that contained the "m" in "Sun Life Stadium". 

You can view the blast here.

THE GOOD:  Adam Dunn.  He now has three multi-hit games in a row, with two homers, two doubles and nine RBIs.  Almost needless to say, the Nats have won all three. 

THE BAD:  Adam Kennedy went 1-for-5 in the leadoff spot and is 7-for-32 (.218) in the past week.  He's hitting .257/.324/.343 for the season.

THE UGLY:  Nyjer Morgan.  Hitting in the eighth spot again, he took another o'fer.  0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.  He's 7-for-37 (.189) in his last 10 games and is hitting .257/.315/.319 for the season.

THE STATS:  5 Ks, 4 BB, 2-for-9 with RISP, 7 LOB, 2 DPs, 1 DP hit into.

NEXT GAME:  Today at 7:10 pm against Florida.  Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 11.25) makes his second start of 2010 against Anibal Sanchez (11-8, 3.29).

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